One Guard

The Boston Celtics' performance this season was as bad as people expected. The Big Three officially disbanded, which also represented the Celtics entering an era of reconstruction.

18 wins and 33 losses, a standard result for a weak team. There is no way, the only All-Star left in the Celtics team is Rajon Rondo. And Rondo is not a scoring point guard. It is difficult for him to lead the team to victory with his scoring ability. This guy's exquisite organization and passing require the support of his teammates to achieve maximum effect.

In the past, Ray Allen, Garnett and Pierce could easily turn Rondo's passes into points. But the current configuration of the Celtics is not conducive to Rondo's performance at all.

A Jeff Green who was once famous but is now almost forgotten. A Brandon Bass who has comprehensive skills but is unable to shoulder heavy responsibilities. There is Salinger, who is stupid and threatens to lose weight every day to stay in shape, and Avery Bradley, who lost to Yi Yang in college and now finally shows some talent.

These four guys who are neither good nor bad, coupled with the eccentric Rajon Rondo, are all Stevens has in his first year coaching the NBA.

To be honest, this kind of lineup is clearly aiming for high-ranking rookies. Even if you let Mr. Popovich coach, his results may not be much better than Stevens.

But in the eyes of many malicious media, Stevens is the fault of the Celtics' poor performance. This young college basketball coach simply cannot adapt to the rhythm of the NBA game. He cannot properly discipline the millionaires under his command who are not much older than himself.

In short, it is an extremely stupid thing to put the responsibility of rebuilding the Celtics on such a young man!

I have to say that Stevens and Yiyang are really similar in this regard. From the first day they entered the league, they were not favored by others.

But neither Ainge nor Stevens himself will pay attention to the media's nonsense. Stevens knows that success in the NBA is not easy. Yiyang won the O'Brien Cup in the first year of his career. This kind of good thing may only happen to one person among millions of people.

And Anji also believes that even the most amazing coach cannot make a rebuilt team instantly become as strong as before.

For now, Ainge is very pleased with Stevens' performance. So far, he has allowed such a Celtics team to win 18 games, which is already very impressive. Compared with the 76ers, which has been rebuilt for many years, the Celtics are really going quite smoothly.

After a three-game winning streak against the Kings, Stevens is not complacent. Even though he knows that the team's goal this season is a high-ranking rookie, Stevens still takes every game seriously. Ainge and Stevens share the same policy of being able to rebuild but refusing to be ruined. Playing poorly like the 76ers did so that the winning culture disappeared is not the result Ainge wants.

They are proud green shirts!

After returning home today, Stevens was watching Yiyang's game videos intently even while eating.

Stevens didn't dare to relax because he knew that Yiyang guy must be actively preparing for war now...

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As Hayward said, although the Celtics have lost their past glory, they still cannot tolerate Xiao Xu. This season, even the defending champion Heat have stumbled under Stevens. The Utah Jazz have lost to the Celtics twice.

So the day before facing the last team in the Eastern Conference, Yiyang's attitude in training was still very serious. Even more serious than other times.

"It seems that Yiyang attaches great importance to tomorrow's game. The current Rajon Rondo should not let him be like this." Looking at Yiyang sweating on the training ground, Mavericks assistant coach Darrell Armstrong They couldn't help but shook their heads.

It has only been five years since Armstrong retired, and he has not forgotten what life is like as a professional player.

But Armstrong has never seen many guys like Yiyang who take training so seriously all season long.

"No, he did this not because of Rajon Rondo, but because of Stevens." Carlisle still stared at the court and only answered his assistant.

"Stevens? Shouldn't that be your opponent?" Armstrong smiled jokingly.

"He is indeed my opponent, but at the same time, he probably wants to show his best state in front of Stevens. This is the best way for him to thank Stevens!" We have been together for four seasons. After coming down, Carlisle also understood Yiyang’s nature very well. The more he respects his opponents, the harder he works to defeat them on the court.

"As for Stevens, that guy's tactical arrangements are really unpredictable." Armstrong touched his chin. Yesterday, he arranged for Salinger to shoot the winning shot. There may not be many people in the United States who can do it. You can guess.

"Because this guy is really similar to Popovich." Carlisle smiled, and it was obvious that he was also interested in Stevens.

"We have heard so many tactical routines, such as "Triangle Offense", "Dynamic Offense", "Princeton"... but we have never heard Popovich say that his routine has any proper noun. Likewise, Steven There is no trademark name for Sri Lanka's tactics. Because basketball is basketball, and the forces and waters are unpredictable. Basketball is always changing, but its essence remains unchanged. This is the most powerful thing about Popovich and Stevens. place. There will never be a unified way to deal with their flexibility."

Listening to Carlisle's explanation, Armstrong felt his head was a little dizzy. It seems that I still have a long way to go before I can become a head coach on my own.

After the team's regular training, Yiyang stayed and practiced shooting for two more hours to ensure that his hot touch would not fade away.

Since the team would fly to Boston early tomorrow morning, Yiyang did not dare to practice too late. If you want to stay in good shape during the game, good rest is also essential.

Just as Yiyang was about to pack his things and change clothes to go home, his cell phone rang under the basketball hoop. Yiyang picked up the phone and looked at it. The name on the caller ID made Yiyang stunned for a second.

"Hello, boss." Yiyang answered the call and couldn't help shouting.

"Boss?...Hahahaha, I haven't heard you call me that for a long time." Stevens smiled. In the Celtics, players usually call him Stevens. Coach or sir, but no one would affectionately call him "boss".

Although this term is not very formal, Stevens just likes it.

"Is the extra training over?"

"Well, I'm getting ready to go home and rest."

"That's good. I'm just calling to remind you of this. Don't go crazy and practice extra just because you're playing against me tomorrow. How are you? How are you doing?"

"Are you spying on the enemy?" Yiyang joked with Stevens in a cold tone.

"That's right. If you are not in good condition, then I will send less people to watch you on the defensive end tomorrow." Stevens simply followed Yiyang's joke. It seems that the Dallas Mavericks have really changed him a lot. . In the past, when I was in college, that gloomy boy didn't even talk much, let alone make jokes.

Seeing the changes in Yiyang over the past few years, Stevens felt extremely happy.

"That's it, then, I'm not in a good state."

"Haha, I won't be fooled! Be good tomorrow. We haven't been on the basketball court at the same time for a long time. So, let's have a wonderful game! After a season, we don't play against each other that many times, so we have to cherish it. "Stevens didn't mention winning or losing. A wonderful game was all he wanted. This condition needs to be created jointly by both parties.

"Don't worry, boss, I won't let you down." Yiyang clenched his fists. Only by showing himself fully in tomorrow's game is the greatest recognition and reward for Stevens's teachings!

After hanging up the phone, Yiyang felt that the raging fire in his body was already burning. He can't wait to start tomorrow's game...

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On February 9, 2014, a total of 8 games were scheduled before the start of the All-Star Game, including many popular teams such as the Lakers, Clippers and Thunder. But most people's eyes are turned to the declining North Shore Garden.

In the home team locker room of TD North Shore Garden Arena, the Celtics players were seriously changing their equipment, and the atmosphere seemed very tense. But Stevens' calm expression did not match the tense atmosphere in the locker room.

That's what Stevens is like, being calm in everything he does is his unique label. Now even if he needs to face the Bulls in their heyday during the Jordan era, it is estimated that Stevens will not show any nervous expression on his face.

"Bradley, Rondo, remember what I told you yesterday." Stevens looked at his two point guards, and both of them nodded in response to their coach.

Let Rondo and Bradley start at the same time. The media may not have thought that Stevens would do this. These two guys, one is 1.85 meters and the other is 1.88 meters. They partner in the back line, and the height will be very disadvantageous.

Generally speaking, a dual point guard lineup usually needs to be matched with a guard who is above average height and can defend and shoot. In the double point guard partnership of Yiyang and Kidd back then, both of them met the above requirements. But Bradley and Rondo...are obviously not within the scope of this "standard."

However, Stevens is still confident that there are no standards in basketball tactics. Does the inside line have to be high? Does the outside line have to be fast? Since there is no standard, any combination is worth trying!

At 8 pm US time, this highly anticipated game finally started. The "Cinderella" myth jointly created by Yiyang and Stevens shocked the United States back then, so everyone knew about their relationship.

The master-disciple relationship between the two is what makes this game interesting. Yiyang knows Stevens well, and Stevens knows Yiyang even more. Everyone is waiting to see what kind of sparks these two people will create after they become rivals.

After the game started, Dalembert rarely got the ball first for the Mavericks. Stevens continued to let Sullinger serve as the starting center. However, this "little fat guy" who is only 2.06 meters tall and not very bouncing is obviously unable to compare with Dalembert's height.

In this way, the Mavericks started their first offense of the game. Yiyang concentrated his attention. He knew very well that Rondo's defense was not so easy to break.

Yiyang originally wanted to pass the ball directly without getting entangled with Rondo. But the rest of the Celtics blocked all passing routes. Yiyang had no choice but to break through on his own to tear apart the Celtics' defense.

Yiyang did not call for a pick-and-roll, but quickly changed hands and then suddenly changed direction, shaking off Rondo's center of gravity and passing by the determined No. 9.

Yiyang's ball control skills made everyone exclaim. It was fast, steady and sudden. You couldn't tell when he would suddenly advance in which direction.

But after passing Rondo, what greeted Yiyang was not an open breakthrough line, but Bradley's strong body!

"Boom!" Yiyang collided with Bradley. He didn't even notice when the other side came to defend.

Bradley was well-known for his defense as early as college. Yiyang suffered a lot from Bradley during the NCAA period. After three and a half seasons of professional basketball experience, his defensive skills have become even more terrifying.

Yiyang was blocked by Bradley's defense. He wanted to pass the ball to Tony Allen, but found that Tony was being entangled by Jeff Green. And Iguodala is too far away from him, and he is likely to be intercepted if he passes the ball rashly.

While Yiyang was thinking about his next plan, Rondo, who was shaken away, quickly responded and knocked the basketball out of Yiyang's hands cleanly!

Yiyang had just focused most of his attention on the movement of Bradley and his teammates, so he didn't have time to watch out for Rondo!

"Yi was unexpectedly intercepted! God, this kind of mistake is extremely rare for Yi!" Mike Breen opened his mouth wide. Being able to steal the basketball directly from Yiyang's hands is something that can be done in this league. The number of people who have experienced this can probably be counted on one hand. And Rondo is undoubtedly one of them.

Stevens' double-teaming tactic worked right from the start. After Rondo stole the ball, he immediately accelerated and sprinted. Yiyang followed closely behind, not giving Rondo any space.

Rondo knew that if he layup directly in front of Yiyang who was pressing him, he would only be greeted by a nail-biting block. But it doesn't matter, what this No. 9 defender knows best is to create opportunities when there are no opportunities.

Entering the three-second zone, Rondo jumped to attack the frame. Yiyang jumped up and completely covered Rondo.

But in the air, Rondo unexpectedly moved the ball behind his back and passed it to Bradley who was following him.

Seeing the basketball in Rondo's hand "disappear out of thin air", Yiyang knew something was wrong. But he was still gliding in the air and couldn't do anything.

Just like that, Bradley caught the basketball and easily made a layup. As soon as the game started, Stevens' Celtics used the Mavericks' best defensive counterattack to take the lead!

Carlisle shook his head. The partnership of Rondo and Bradley, two short guards, looked full of loopholes, but in fact it was a stroke of genius.

Because only if these two guys join forces can it be possible to contain Yiyang. I have to admit that Stevens is really good at discovering the players' strengths and utilizing them.

In the North Shore Garden Arena, fans cheered continuously. This opening undoubtedly gave the Mavericks, the league's No. 1 team, a shot in the arm.

In Boston, winning never comes easy!

However, Stevens remained sullen, not that he was dissatisfied with the team's performance. But he knew very well that Yiyang would not be killed so easily. Now, it's not time to be happy yet.